Five Minutes with Fatboy Slim

By Dan Austin

Communications Manager

A one man festival, a rave vaudevillian, Fatboy Slim makes his long-awaited debut at Ally Pally this weekend. As we prepare for a live show that will feature over 2.5km of cables, 2000 watts of power, 135 lights, 16 lasers, one giant inflatable smiley crossbones and an acid converter, we talk firsts, festivals and the future with the legendary DJ.

Once you’ve finished reading, we’ve pulled together a playlistinspired byhis Beatport chart to get you suitably excited for Saturday night.

You’re making your Ally Pally debut, what does it mean to you to be playing this venue?

“Immense pleasure to be allowed to throw a party in such an inspiring and iconic venue. I have waited a long time for this….”

Have you ever been to show here?

“I vaguely remember a trip to the Brit Awards around the turn of the century but it is a little sketchy. Must have been a good night!”

Now you’re finally playing Ally Pally, if you could play anywhere else in the universe where would it be and why

“The Thames Barrier. Great acoustics, lots of scope for production but quite weather dependent…”

The response to the Ally Pally show was huge with people of all ages due to come. What is it about dance music that brings so many people together?

“The power of collective euphoria amongst so many like-minded individuals is a wonderful thing to experience. Younger people aren’t allowed into nightclubs and some of my older friends cannot stay out past midnight so it is a perfect excuse to bring all the tribes and generations together under one roof for a collective escape to the smile high club.”